Review: Blackhat

Blackhat is the new film from Michael Mann and Hollywood's latest attempt at trying to make hacking and computer espionage thrilling. Sadly, not since The Net has a film failed so wholly at making computer terminal screens equate to excitement.

Chris Hemsworth is woefully miscast as imprisoned hacker Nicholas Hathaway. Right from the get-go the film tries to sell his physical presence as five prison guards in full riot gear are used to transport him. The problem is we believe Hemsworth can fight from the moment he appears on screen, what we don't believe is that he is a hacker with a heart of gold. The script by Morgan Davis Foehl does little to help this.

Hathaway gets a furlough from jail at the command of his old MIT roommate Chen, an effective Leehom Wang. Chen is a big wig in the Chinese military and alongside FBI agent Carol Barrett, a great Viola Davis, they team up to stop a world class terrorist hacker. The hacker hits a nuclear reactor and raises the stock of soy using a malware Hathaway created back in college. Bored yet?

Try as he might with fancy camera work and CGI sequences of viruses uploading, Mann can't create a pulse for the film. A few brief spurts of violence show that Mann is still capable of some greatness. The material and casting here is what is to blame. The script never seems certain if it wants to be a pulpy, fun cyber thriller or an adult and topical thriller with a Bourne style, globe-trekking film. The balance is never found and the film feels silly and boring instead of fun.

On a technical level the film fails as well. Despite a few sequences the film's digital look feels dated and ugly. Normally that can be forgiven but Mann usually is at the forefront of digital shooting. The dated feel does give the film a glorious 80's feel during one sex scene. Sex scenes are rare in action films these days and the very existence of one gives the film an unintentional retro vibe. Overall Blackhat feels dated, confused and miscast and is an unfortunate entry in a talented director's canon.

2/5